er part of the day. Said Cho[u]bei--"Deign,
Okusama, to allow Cho[u]bei to prove his art. All his accomplishments
have not been displayed." To pass off the ugly woman at night could be
done. He was compelled to act by daylight; though relying somewhat on
the dusky interior of Toemon's entrance and reception room. This Toemon
was the chief of the guild which bought and controlled these unfortunate
street-walkers, lowest of their class. Cho[u]bei sat down before O'Iwa.
As if in an actor's room he was surrounded with a battery of brushes and
spatulas, pastes, paints of all shades of greys, flesh colour,
pinks--even reds. Under his skilful hands O'Iwa was transformed. To make
her beautiful was impossible. He made her passable. The weather was
cold, though spring was now close at hand. Cho[u]bei hesitated. The walk
was a long one. His handiwork might fade or melt under the sweating
induced by effort. Besides he had no desire for conversation. There were
to be as few answers to curious questions as possible. In his house he
had left the two women to themselves, and saw O'Iwa only when O'Taki was
present. So he called a _kago_ and gave the necessary directions. As the
coolies moved off with their fair burden he trotted along in the rear,
his project occupying his busy mind.

The place of Toemon was at Yoshidacho[u] Nicho[u]me, in the centre of
the Warigesui district. To the north was the canal of that name. To the
south a second canal ditto; the second stream was the larger, fairer,
and more pretentious South Warigesui. An equal distance to the east was
the Ho[u]onji Bashi, with the great temple of that name just across the
bounding river or canal of the district. As the _kago_ bearers ambled
down the bank of the North Warigesui, O'Iwa thought she had never seen a
more filthy stream than this back-water with its stale current. The
bearers put them down at the canal. Cho[u]bei had some directions to
give during the short walk of a couple of hundred yards to their
destination. Said he--"For a _samurai_ woman to engage in this business
is a serious offence. After all the matter is mere form; a pledge to
secure the return of the sealed paper forged by the husband. The wife
performs her highest duty in saving the honour of the House. Is not that
true?" There was a little sob in O'Iwa's voice as she gave assent. She
felt different now that she was close at hand to the scene and crisis of
her trial. Continued Cho[u]bei--"The agreement